"We are not amused."

The Aquinas, a student run newspaper at Scranton University was shut down last week after releasing an April Fools' Day Issue which parodied The Hoya. The newspaper was renamed The Hoya for the issue and contained stories with fake authors that made fun of college administrators and sensitive religious and political issues. ... On April 2 the administration removed the issue from circulation, fired Sean Matthews, editor-in-chief of the paper, and changed the locks to The Aquinas' office.

Timothy Gabrielli, Scranton Student Government President, said that the April 1st issue magnified the problems that the university community has had with the paper all year. "We fully support the decision of the publications board and the administration to suspend temporarily the publication of The Aquinas because of the complaints we received all year long regarding the professionalism and journalistic quality of The Aquinas," he said. In a letter to the Vice President for Student Affairs on April 2, he called the paper continuously offensive, potentially libelous and misrepresentative of the University of Scranton community.

OK, the admin moves in to quash a student paper that spoofed it, and the president of student government commends the action on the grounds that the paper was offensive and "misrepresentative" of the university community. No garments have been rent in the praetorium of the ACLU. Any guesses?

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It seems very difficult to get this point across, but I'll try again. The major "enemies" of the Church are NOT outside, but inside. The appaently "pro-active" postures of organizations such as the ACLU have been heavily undergirded and preceded for DECADES by the passivity of the bishops and their subordinate "enforcing" agencies. What business or power does the ACLU or any equivalent have with the Church. NONE!!! We have undone and continue to undo ourselves! Judas Iscariot was no stranger.

Posted by: -
Apr. 17, 2004 10:44 AM ET USA

Sane and rational life has to have its limits. Once crossed we are all living the life of the insane and irrational.

Posted by: -
Apr. 16, 2004 6:00 PM ET USA

I think the point is less that the college acted wrongly in acting decisively, but that it seems that what causes this sort of reaction (e.g., mockery and insensitivity) is not nearly as troublesome as other things that are protected and tolerated (e.g., open defiance of the Church, abortion, etc.) I'd give 3-to-1 odds that you would probably be in FAR more trouble at most Jesuit colleges for publicly criticizing MLK Jr. than John Paul II. Any takers?

Posted by: -
Apr. 16, 2004 1:08 PM ET USA

I don't see anything wrong with this "surpression of speech," that is, if the following article is accurrate:
http://www.scrantontimes.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=11242978&BRD=2185&PAG=461&dept_id=415898&rfi=8